CMHC could be pulled out of mortgage insurance business, Flaherty says

Finance Minister Jim Flaherty would consider taking Canada Mortgage Housing Corp. out of the mortgage default insurance business he told the National Post’s editorial board.

Government fixes mortgage market, but will it work?

Once again Ottawa has stepped in to slow what it believes is an overheated housing market, this time by putting the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. under tighter oversight and banning the use of CMHC insurance on covered bonds.

Decline in Dublin property prices slowing

Residential property prices in Ireland have fallen by 16.3% in the year to the end of March, the latest figures from the Central Statistical Office show.

OSFI to supervise CMHC

OTTAWA  — Finance Minister Jim Flaherty confirmed Thursday the government will tighten regulations for Canada’s housing agency in a bid to help limit the risk to financial institutions amid a red-hot housing market.

Federal Reserve keeps key interest rate on hold, offers few clues on stimulus

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Federal Reserve on Wednesday repeated its promise to leave interest rates on hold until at least late 2014 but offered few clues into whether it might offer additional stimulus later this year.

Bank of Canada takes aim at home equity lines of credit

The Bank of Canada sounded the alarm on growing household debt on Wednesday, taking aim in particular at the growing tendency of Canadians to take out lines of credit using home equity.

Carney urges caution over hot housing market

Parts of the Canadian housing market, especially condominiums in some major cities, have seen prices jump to levels that warrant caution, the head of the country’s central bank said in an interview broadcast on Saturday.

What tamer inflation means for interest rates

OTTAWA — A drop in Canada’s year-on-year inflation rate to an 18-month low in March will not delay interest rate hikes by the Bank of Canada, which is paying closer attention to economic growth, analysts said on Friday.

Some buyers still willing to engage in bidding wars: poll

While home prices are moderating in most parts of the country, bidding wars are becoming more commonplace and a recent poll reveals that a quarter of homeowners would willingly get into one when buying a home.

Canadians don't mind paying for the perks of condo living

TORONTO, April 18, 2012 /CNW/ - Attracted to the urban lifestyle, three-quarters of Canadian condo buyers say condo fees are worth the extra monthly expense to enjoy the benefits of living in a condominium.

Canadian real estate market a tale of two cities

Canada’s hottest real estate market is finally cooling off, new sales figures show, much to the relief of those who have grown weary of talk of a West Coast property bubble.

Central bank unlikely to raise interest rates for fear of hurting the economy

OTTAWA - Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney often talks about the danger of too much household debt — but he's unlikely to do anything about it when he has a chance this week.

No March Madness Repeat in 2012

The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports that the dollar volume of homes sold through Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in BC declined 26.5 per cent to $3.8 billion in March compared to the same month last year. 

Report blames non-mortgage debt for consumer woes

A new report from Equifax is pointing a finger in the same direction as brokers, arguing non-mortgage debt as the real threat to consumer solvency.

Canada expects moderate growth in 2012: Flaherty

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said on Tuesday he expected Canada to post moderate growth this year, noting that the country's recovery remained fragile and Europe's sovereign debt crisis continued to pose risks to the global economy.

Canadians confused over real estate market

Despite highly-competitive interest rates, Canadians are backing away from the real estate market. And it's no wonder. Consumers are bombarded with contradictory economic reports about the fragility of the housing market in the U.S., the blistering-hot Canadian real estate bubble -- is it even a bubble? -- and varying interest rates that seem to change on a dime according to the whims of the big-six Canadian banks.

Flaherty calls on banks to ‘fix’ mortgage market

Canada’s finance minister said on Wednesday he would rather not tighten mortgage rules again to curb high household debt and that banks themselves are taking on that job by becoming more strict with their lending criteria.

The upside of higher rates

For three years, the word on the street has been that interest rates have nowhere to go but up. But few Canadian commentators – other than David Rosenberg – got the call on rates right.

Is there gold in foreclosed homes?

NEW YORK – Dan Magder recently gave up a top job with private equity firm Lone Star Funds to strike out on his own and become a landlord.

Spain introduces ‘most austere budget’ in its history

Spain, under threat of falling victim to the region’s debt crisis, will raise corporate taxes and slash public spending to trim the deficit this year by more than a third.

Residential property providing best returns for investors in German markets

Residential property is providing the best investment returns for the German real estate sector, according to the DIX German Property Index for 2011 published by IPD.